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Joe Colborne’s phone started blowing up late Wednesday night and the Calgary Flames forward knew something was up.

The incoming texts were from his Toronto Marlies buddies who, along with Colborne, had played with Edmonton Oilers goalie Ben Scrivens in the American Hockey League.

Scrivens — Colborne had quickly found out — was having quite the game versus the San Jose Sharks. In the end, the undrafted former Toronto Maple Leaf and Los Angeles King from Spruce Grove had turned aside 59 (!) shots in a 3-0 Oilers win over one of the National Hockey League heavyweights.

“That’s an incredible night he had there,” Colborne was saying prior to Thursday’s clash against the Sharks. “We were watching some video on our own and he was making some pretty solid saves.

“I’ve seen Scrivvy when he gets on a roll. And when he gets on a roll, he can be pretty much unbeatable sometimes.”

Colborne remembers the way Scrivens played during their 2011-12 Calder Cup championship run, backstopping the Marlies all the way to the finals against the Norfolk Admirals. In 17 games, he posted a 1.92 goals against average and a 0.935 save percentage, three shootouts and a 11-6 record despite losing in four straight games to the Anaheim Ducks farm team.

“He was playing like (Wednesday) almost every game for us,” Colborne said. “He was making 40-something saves, maybe giving up one goal, and getting a shutout for us.

“He was incredible. We were all just sitting there in awe. It’s obviously a level he can’t keep up 24/7. But when he gets there and plays like that, he’s tough to beat.”

Scrivens surpassed the previous Oilers team record of 56 saves and secured the NHL mark for most saves in a regulation shutout in the expansion era.

“That’s a lot of shots,” said Flames goaltending coach Clint Malarchuk. “I think sometimes those games are easier because you’re in the zone. No. 1, pucks are hitting you. And sometimes those games where you are getting two shots here and there’s a big lapse and you’re waiting and waiting, that can be tougher sometimes.

“But 60? That’s kind of almost over the top. That’s a little exhausting.”

The record-setting performance — definitely did not surprise Colborne.

But it’s understandable how the rest of the hockey world woke up Wednesday wondering about this Scrivens guy.

A former Alberta Junior Hockey League netminder that played with Drayton Valley and the Calgary Canucks for one season (2004-05), he played four campaigns at Cornell University in the NCAA where he wound up with the nickname: “The Professor.”

The six-foot-two, 192-pounder has passages from Shakespeare’s MacBeth and King Lear on his mask. His Twitter ( “I am not what I think I am and I am not what you think I am; I am what I think that you think I am. — Charles Cooley.”

Colborne also remembers Scrivens as a 15-year-old call-up for the AJHL’s Camrose Kodiaks and watching him during the playoffs.

“He’s such an unassuming guy when you look at him,” Colborne said. “We always used to joke that if you saw him on a beach, wearing no shirt, there’s no chance you’d think he’s a professional athlete. But, seriously, he’s such a good guy in the room. I was really excited for the opportunity he had in L.A. I thought he really kind of showed he could be a solid player. Now he’s traded to Edmonton, he’s got a good chance taking over as starter there.

“He’s playing in his hometown now and, obviously, I know how that feels, so it’s pretty special. I wish him all the best.”

Scrivens wound up in Edmonton after a stunning string of games November when he replaced L.A.’s starter Jonathan Quick. When backup Martin Jones took over and Quick returned to the lineup, Scrivens was the odd man out and found himself part of a trade to the Oilers.

“He’s such a great guy, obviously very intelligent,” Colborne said. “I’m excited for him.”

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Former Scrivens teammates abuzz after goalie's masterful stoning of the San Jose Sharks

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